Eleven minutes in space and dozens of metric tons of CO₂ burned. The 100-kilometer flight from Earth by singer Katy Perry and five other women in April drew criticism from environmentalists and a broader online audience, accusing millionaires of "burning the planet." Beyond the carbon footprint of space tourism, the controversy underscored the crucial issue of climate inequality. The wealthiest 10% of the world have been responsible for two thirds of global warming since 1990 and a significant increase in extreme events, particularly in the most vulnerable countries, according to a study published in Nature Climate Change on Wednesday, May 7.

The disproportionate carbon footprint of the highest income brackets is well-known and established. The work of economist Lucas Chancel showed in 2022 that the wealthiest 10% emitted 48% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, while the poorest 50% were responsible for only 12% of those emissions. The new analysis goes a step further: It quantifies for the first time how consumption and financial investments contribute to increasing heatwaves and droughts.

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